How rescue unfolded
GAVIN FERNANDO THE outstanding success of the Thai cave rescue is nothing short of a miracle.
The boys had spent more than two weeks in darkness, could barely swim and were no doubt fearing for their lives as they made the dangerous 3km journey to the Tham Luang cave entrance.
But just how did they manage to pull through?
There’s no underestimating how difficult the journey was – not just physically, but psychologically.
How do a dozen boys who can barely swim keep it together after more than two weeks in total darkness?
Particularly knowing there’s a chance they may not make it out alive?
A key person in the rescue was a displaced teenager from one of the world’s poorest countries.
Adul Sam-on, a 14-yearold in the Wild Boars team speaks five languages – Thai, English, Burmese, Mandarin (Chinese) and Wa, from near the Myanmar and Chinese borders.
His English let him talk to the British rescue divers who found the team after they had been missing for nine days.
He was the only one who spoke English.
Coach Ekkapol “Ek” Chantawong was also pivotal to their survival by keeping their spirits up.
He also had a tough childhood – as the lone survivor of a disease that killed his brother, mother and father when he was 10. Many others in his village died. John Ismay, a
reporter and former US Navy diving officer, said this type of cave diving was so dangerous that not even US military units used it for training.
He said the navy didn’t allow divers to use scuba gear for these operations, which the Thai divers reportedly did, as it was likely the only available option in the circumstances.
Everything about the mission was a “trade-off between traditional safety considerations and operational necessity” he wrote.
A cave poses its own unique risks. For one thing, if you get into trouble, you can’t just dump your equipment and swim to the surface for air like you can while diving in the ocean.
Mr Ismay said the full-face mask the children wore made it easier because the adult divers could talk the children through the cave and make sure they were OK.
He said it was unlikely they could see anything underwater, even with a torch.
The toughest challenge was near the beginning of the route, with a submerged choke point 38cm high and 72cm wide.
Just before each boy started on his removal journey, Australian anaesthetist Dr Richard Harris gave him a mild calming sedative.
Once the last boy was out, the four divers came out, followed by Dr Harris.
And just after they emerged, the main water pump failed – having shifted millions of litres of water out of the cave for the rescue.